India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s1.41

c9.s1.41

RAINFALL—Pāṇini refers to the rainy season as *prāvṛish* (IV.3.26; VI.3.14) and *varshā* (IV.3.18), the former was the first part of the season (Hopkins, Epic Chronology, *J.A.O.S.*, 1903, p. 26). These two parts were known as *pūrva-varshā* and *apara-varshā* (*Avayavād-ṛitoḥ*, VII.3.11). He also refers to *varsha-pramāṇa* (III.4.32), measurement of rain-fall, of which *goshpada* is mentioned as the measure of lowest rain-fall (VI.¹.145). Kauṭilya speaks of the quantity of rain (*varsha-pramāṇa*) in Jāṅgala and other parts of the country. Failure of rain or drought (*varsha-pratibandha*) is referred to as *avagraha*² (III.3.51). Pāṇini mentions two crops in the year as *vāsantaka* (vernal) and *āśvayujaka* (autumnal) (IV.3.45; 46). Megasthenes also noticed that India had a double rain-fall and a double crop every year.